Sautee up garlic in olive oil ( chopped onion goes well here if you like ) , add all other ingredients ( spices etc. are to taste ) simmer about 15 minutes. We like to serve with some frozen peas added in.

Its obviously a pantry type dish - but we even serve it company with fresh pasta and it is always a hit... t odress it up - throw in some olives , a piece of fresh tuna or even a few steamed clams in the shells.

Couscous cooked with tomato paste in the water (good, but gluier than usual) and chickpeas cooked with onion, garlic and tomato. We were out all day (vegetable fajitas for two at a restaurant for lunch), so I wanted something quick and easy. This was a pleasant surprise.

I had an afternoon tea for my book club and now I'm full of finger sandwiches, scones and sweet bread. The only real substitution is that everybody preferred coffee which I served with cream instead of milk, which was a real treat.